Chappell endorses Marsh the leader

National selector expects strong captaincy showing from WA skipper in India, with Paine's deputy role still up for grabs

Cricket Network

6 August 2018, 05:39 PM AEST

Mitchell Marsh has an opportunity to press his claims for the Test vice-captaincy when he leads Australia A in India next month, says Greg Chappell.

But the national selector also insisted that there's no reason why a specialist fast bowler could not be named Tim Paine's deputy.

Marsh, who underwent surgery in April to clean out bone spurs on his left ankle, is set to lead Australia A in two four-day games against India A in the first half of September, with the matches expected to play a significant role in helping the national selection panel determine its batting order for the first Test against Pakistan in the UAE in October.

Given the unpredictability around Australia's batting order, allrounder Marsh looks to have his stiffest competition for the deputy role in off-spinner Nathan Lyon and paceman Josh Hazlewood.

Pat Cummins recently endorsed Hazlewood for the job, and Chappell says he’d have no qualms about handing the deputy role to a quick despite Australia historically shying away from fast bowler captains in Test cricket.

"It's not improbable for a fast bowler to be a leader," Chappell explained.

"I think captaincy sometimes it's considered a bit challenging – the issue with fast bowlers is they are sometimes more prone to injury than most others.

"But from a deputy point of view, I don't think it's an issue at all."